Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou makes feelings clear on controversial incident from dramatic Liverpool win
WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as Tottenham beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has opened up on Lukas Bergvall after the midfielder controversially avoided a red card before scoring the winner in their 1-0 Carabao Cup victory over Liverpool on Wednesday night.
Spurs went into the showdown hoping to get revenge on the Reds, who thumped the north London giants 6-3 just weeks ago.
And Tottenham did exactly that, with Bergvall scoring a late winner to give them victory and boost their chances of making the Carabao Cup final ahead of the second leg of their semi-final on February 6.
Liverpool were, however, left furious towards the end of the match.
Tottenham news: Ange Postecoglou has opened up on Lukas Bergvall after the midfielder controversially avoided a red card before scoring the winner in their 1-0 Carabao Cup victory over Liverpool on Wednesday night.
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Prior to his goal, Bergvall was fortunate to avoid a second yellow after cutting down Kostas Tsimikas.
Arne Slot has complained about the decision, with the Liverpool boss furious that the 18-year-old was allowed to stay on the pitch.
And Postecoglou has now provided his verdict, with the Tottenham boss admitting that the rules can be frustrating.
"I spoke about it after the game last time, I think my comments were misinterpreted," he said.
"I didn't criticise the referee or the decision. I didn't think the decision was right about the handball, but I said it's very hard at the moment, it's very confusing, to understand certain elements of the game.
"Now, we've been told consistently in the last few weeks, because I've been screaming about it from the sidelines, because a lot of teams have got away with a lot of fouls with us, without bookings, because the referee plays advantage.
"We've been told consistently that if we play advantage, as long as it's not a cynical foul, then the player does not get cautioned.
"So that's been relayed to us on a weekly basis, because we feel like that's been happening. That's one of the things I was bemoaning last weekend.
"There's certain players who were repeatedly fouling, we were getting advantage, but no bookings. That's what I'm talking about.
"I'm really surprised at how, what's the word I'm looking for, how people in this country are so easily letting the game change so much so quickly.
"It's changed more since VAR has come in since I've been involved than in the past 50 years. We never used to debate offsides, we never used to debate handballs, we never used to debate holding in the box, we never used to debate so many things.
"We've just got to be careful about constantly why do we want to change the game so much, and I know I'm going to be the old bloke in the stands that keep shouting 'boo' every time and I'll be the only one, but I just thought people would be a little bit more protective about the sanctity of the game.
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Tottenham news: Lukas Bergvall avoided a red card before scoring the winner against Liverpool
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"That's what I was talking about. I wasn't criticising referees, I wasn't. I've never criticised, I didn't think the decision was right, but it's just the way of the game, I think there's a lot of confusion at the moment.
"That's my belief that the game is changing on the basis of technology, and I'm saying why isn't anyone speaking up about it?
"Especially in this country who, for all intents and purposes, you feel, you guys think you're custodians of the game, you've got a song that says, 'it's coming home', this is your game, and yet it takes an Aussie from the other side of the world to be the one that's most conservative about changes."
Postecoglou has been feeling the heat in recent months amid Tottenham's struggled for consistency.
Tottenham news: Ange Postecoglou has admitted to being more emotional on the touchline following his side's 1-0 win over Liverpool
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And he admits that the pressure has taken a toll, adding: "Well, it's been an emotional time, and it's like I keep saying, I am a human being, you know, like all of us, we're in these roles of manager and we're supposed to, you know, I understand we've got positions of responsibility, but we're still human beings in the core, and we react to things.
"I don't like the fact that people who are working really hard for this club, on and off the field, have not had that feeling of victory. I don't feel great about our supporters not having that feeling of victory. It weighs heavily on me. It's my responsibility.
"I'm a little bit more emotional than I usually am, but I guess that also probably means I do care and I think that's still important."
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